Because of the sin nature with its natural short-circuiting of the mind, the teacher must not take any previous or would-be acquisition of knowledge or skill for granted. The teacher must firmly set in place the needed foundational skills for additional new learning. Again, take nothing for granted. To overlook a gap in learning may easily lead to frustration and self-defeat. If a child does not possess the foundational skills toward a particular new accomplishment, the teacher must reduce the lesson toward acquiring the more fundamental skill. Adamantly I say, retreating to establish fundamentals is not defeat, though it goes for a moment against our sinful human pride, but rather ensures eventual victory.
